A novel approach for estimating pore size distribution and capillary pressure in hydrocarbon zone through hydraulic flow unit framework using NMR log

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging imparts a wealth of information regarding the petrophysical characterization of rocks including pore size distribution and capillary pressure. However, the NMR data can only be comprehensively utilized when formation pores are fully water-saturated. As with hydrocarbon saturation increase in rock pores the NMR's transverse relaxation curve (T2 distribution) gets distorted and this in turn causes flawed measurement of petrophysical and fluid properties. Therefore, the estimation of representative pore structure and capillary pressure from hydrocarbon zone utilizing T2 distribution has traditionally been quite arduous. The previous correction methods in this regard mostly require expensive core data for their implementation, which makes them less desirable. In this study, a novel workflow has been introduced which does not necessitate expensive core data for its application. The new method employs the concept of hydraulic flow units (HFUs), which are zones within a reservoir having consistent petrophysical and geological properties to subdivide the reservoir rock while investigating the T2 distribution character variation through a statistical approach to determine the most optimally informed reconstruction of effected T2 distributions in hydrocarbon zone for accurate petrophysical characterization. After implementing the novel workflow on a carbonate reservoir having gas, the before and after comparative analysis of T2 distribution, pore size distribution (PSD) and capillary pressure curves show promising results. The novel workflow establishes a robust and cost-effective methodology for NMR T2 distribution correction in hydrocarbon zone for un-cored and partially cored wells.